Machine for operating upon shoes



1, 1944. w. w. PRUE. 2,340,614

' MACHINE FbR OPERATING UPON SHOES Filed Feb. 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

w. w. PRUE I MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SHOES Feb. 1, 1944.

. Filed Feb, 11. 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE MACHINE SFO'R .OPERATING'UPON'SHOES Walter W. Prue, Auburn, Maine, :assignor' to 'UnitedLShoe Machinery .Corporation, Fleming- 'ton, N. .L, a corporation "New Jersey .Application February 11, 1943, Serial :No. 475,467

18' Claims. ('01. 12-51) L'I'hisinventi'on relates to machines for :operat- :ing 1111011 shoes and is dierein :illustrated as embodied in ra machineaforsapplying maskingipieces *tothe heel-seat portions of'shoes.

:In the manufacture ofr-shoesz'having woodheels, "after an outsole .has 'been attached to ta ashoe :it is customaryctoperforma:heel-seat=fittingvoperaitionaupon the outsolento prepare the shoe bottom (for the'receptionof the'heel. This operation is tusually-performed by'meansnofarheel-tseat-fitting machine and, in order" to ;facilitate the operation .of the machine -on'-the work, it is desirable that ther=portien of the outsole which is to be operated upon, i. --e., 'the portionwvhichextends rearwardIy-of the heel :breas't line, 'shall 'be deft unattached to the shoe abottom. :When the =outse-le .-is attached by means of cement or other adhesive, however, his -difiicult -to lcontrolrthe operation of applying 'thecement and attaching the soleso as to determine -exactly-where the cement bond --is to terminate and frequently it is caused toextend.reaiwardlyof the heel 'breast line. "In such instances, the =efiicient operation *of the heel-seat-fitting machine is interfered with and :as a result the fitting operation maybe improperly performed.

In order :to insure that the adhesive bond -between the outsole and the shoe *bottom shall not extend into the area to be operated upon by the .heel-seatefitting. machine, tit is the present practice in .someshoe factories to lay a small piece of ,paper by hand upon the heel-seat portion of thelasted shoe before the outsole is attached and temporarily oo-secure the .piecein place by means .of adhesive .orotherwise so that it will serve to .cover or mask the heel-seat portion and thus to .insure that, in.the subsequentioutsoleeattaching operation, the outsole will not become stuck 'to .the heel-seat .portion of theshoe. This hand operation, however, .is .not entirely satisfactory since it'is .difiicult for .the operator to .locate the paper accurately with-respect .to the breast line of the .shoe bottom. llvioreover, the hand operavtion requires considerable time .and,.if adhesive "to disclose more clearly certain details ofsconstruction;

inanufa'cture of the shoe.

i Figzlis a sectiona1view:of'the machinetalken along the line :IV--IV of Fig. '1;

iig. 5 is a detailed view in section on '--the line Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along the line VI--VI of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a View in longitudinal vertical'section of a portion of the machine showing 'cer- "tain of the'op'erative parts in the positions they occupy just after a masking piece has beensevered from the'supply strip; and

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal, verticalse'ction 'of a portion of the machine showing the positions "of the various operating parts when the masking piece isbeing applied to the shoe.

Referring to-the drawings, the illustrated machinecomprises a base "f4 which, as shown, is

bolted toa bench l6. Rising from the base 1M and ofiset 'forwardly with respect thereto are two upright frame members l8, l8 which are spaced horizontally to receive between them an inclined guideway 20 for a strip of paper 22 which leads from a supply roll '(not shown) over a guide roll 24 and downwardly through the guideway 20. The strip 22 is led by the guideway 20 over an adhesive applying roll 26 and forwardly into the'position shown in Fig. 6 beneath a movable shear blade 28=and a movable presser or plunger 30. The movable shear-blade 28 cooperates with a fixed'shear blade "32 to sever'a piece M (Figs. 2 "and 7) from the leading end of the strip 22 and to 'apply the severed piece to the bottom ofa'lasted shoe S to serve as a mask during the performance of a subsequent operation in the The 'guideway 20 'is formed between spaced upper and lower plates 36 and 38, respectively, which are secured by screws '40 (Figs. 1 andA) to lugs 42 on the inner sides of the frame members I8. The strip 22 is fed forwardly through the 'guideway 20 to advance its leading end into the position shown in-Fig. 6

bymeans of a reciprocatory feed finger 46 having aneedle-like'lower end adapted topuncture the 'strip to secure feeding engagement there- I6 on the slide engage a stop rod 86 which determines the length of the feeding stroke of the feed finger and also the rearward position of the back gage 84, in which position the back gage functions to locate the shoe lengthwise in position to receive the masking piece which is to be cut from the strip 22. opposite .ends of the stop rod 86 extend outwardly throughtthe slots I8 and the rod is adjustably secured in place by means of nuts 88 on the ends of the rod which are tightened against the outer sides of the frame slots 54 by means of two levers, 56 which are;

pivoted at 58 to the frame members I8, the, upper portions of the levers being slotted at..60 to re ceive the ends of the shaft. A light'leaf spring 62, secured at its forward end to the shaft 52 and disposed with its rearextremity'bearing upon the upper side of the plate 36, tends tov r0 tate the shaft 52 in a direction to hold the finger 46 in feeding engagement with the strip, as shown inFig. 6. Upon the backward or non-feeding stroke of the feed finger 46 the'spring 62 yields to enable the finger to be withdrawn from the perforation made by it in the strip 22 and to slide idly rearward over the surface of the strip into the position shown in Fig. 1 where 'it engages a cam face 64 (Fig. l) on the plate 36which holds the point of the feed finger elevated some- -.memb'er's I8. By'loosening the nuts 88 and shifting the position of the stop rod 86 in the slots I8 the extent of the movement imparted to the f'back gage 84 and'the slide 68 by the shoe may be adjusted to vary the operative position of the what above the surface of the strip in the inr tervals between successive feed movements ofthe latter. During these intervals and during the backward movements of the feed finger the strip 22 .is held against accidental backward movement in the guideway 20 by means of alightspring zontal. rod 14 carried by ears 16 depending from the slide 68, the rod extending through slots I8 in the frame members I8. Two springs 80, each secured at one end to the rod I4 and at the opposite end to the frame members I8, tend to hold the rod against the front ends of the slots I8 to determine the rearward positions of the feed finger 46. Theslide 68 is moved backwardly to cause a feed movement to be imparted to the finger 46 by the shoe which is to be operated upon, the operator supporting the shoe and-moving it rearwardly in engagement with the slide in the act of presenting the shoe to the machine. The shoe S is held bottom uppermost in the hands of the operator and is initially presented in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig.

1. As indicated, the bottom of the back part of the shoe engages beneath the upturned front edge portions of two gage plates 82(Figs. 1 and 3) secured to the lower side of the table I2 with the upper portion of the back part of the shoe upper bearing against a depending abutment or back gage 84 on the slide 68. The operator then pushes the shoe rearwardly, thereby causing its bottom surface to slide past the gage plates 82 .until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 6.

This. movement of the shoe moves the slide 68 rearwardly and rocks the lever 56 in a direction toimpart a forward feeding stroke to the feed finger 46. against the pull of the springs 88 until the ears The slide 68 is moved backwardly back gagein accordance with the size of a particular shoe to be operated upon. Inasmuch as the feed finger is operatively connected with the slide 68 the shifting of the position of the stop rod 86 will also cause the length of stroke of the feed finger 46 to be correspondingly and simultaneously adjusted to vary the'position of the leading edge of the strip 22 at the end of the feed movement of the strip. As a result of such an adjustment of both the operative position of the back gage 84 and the position of the leadin edge of the strip the shoe and the leading end portion of the strip will be relatively so positioned in accordance with the size of theshoe so'that when the'shear blades and the presser have operated to cut a piece from-the strip and apply it to the shoe the piece will be located upon the heel-seat portion of the shoe bottom with its forward edge in line with the heel breast line of the shoe, that is to say, with the line where the breast edge of the heel will be located when the heel is subsequently applied to theshoe.

The adhesive applying roll 26 is arranged to dip into a supply of liquid adhesive 9| in a tank 92 which rests between positioning pins 93 on the table I2. The'roll 26 projects through a notch 94 in the plate 38 so as to engage the lower side of the strip 22 and it is fixed upon a shaft 69 which is journaled in bearings in the 'sides' of the tank 92. To insure that the applying'roll 26 will be rotated as the strip 22 is fed-forwardly so that the roll will function to convey adhesive from the tank 92 to the strip, an idle roll 96 is mounted above the roll 26. The idle roll 96 is fixed upon a shaft 98 which is journaled in bearings in the frame members I8 and the lower portion of the roll 96 extends throughan'opening I in the plate 36 into engagement with the upper side of the strip 22 to hold the strip in contact with the applying roll 26. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the rolls 26 and 96 are shorter than the width of the strip 22 and consequently the roll 26 will apply the adhesive to the central portion only of the strip so that the masking piece 32 will be coated with adhesive only in its central portion,'i. e., the portion which isto overlie the bottom of the shoe, and the opposite end portions of the masking piece (which are to extend outwardly somewhat beyond the sides of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2) will be left uncoated. Also, as shown, the periphery of the roll 26 is slightly convex axially of the roll while the periphery of the roll'96 is correspondingly concave axially of the roll. This construction causes the adhesive coated central portion of thestrip 22 to be bulged or bowed upwardly, as indicated at I82 in Fig. 3, so that it will clear the fixed shear blade blade 32' and thereby insure that the adhesive willnot stickztheistripto:theblade so as to interfere with the feed of the-strip.

It :may :be desired to :employ astrip 22 "which has .a dried coating :of 'adhesiveithereon and in such a case'the tankr92iwill contain water-or solvent instead: of adhesive and ithewater ..or solvent will be applied by:the:roll-'to the precoated side of the .strip to moisten the coating 'andzthereby render iteffectivetosectue the piece cut from t'he strip to the bottom .of the shoe.

While the shoe ;is held .by the operator in :the position shown in .Fig. 6 the movable zshear 'blade 12-8 'is .depressed to cooperate with the stationary blade '32 to .cutamasking piece fromathe leading end of thestrip :22 and the presser :pad 3fl is operated 'to move the masking piece downwardly and press itagainst'the bottomof the Since thereby'causing the piece .to be attachedto the shoe by means of the adhesive on the piece. 'The fixed shear blade 32 is pos'i-tioned just in 'front of the forward end of the plate 38 so 'thatthe strip 22 will pass over the fixed blade'as it is being fed beneath the movable blade '28. To insure that the shear blades '28 and 32 will cooperate 'tomake a clean cut. the fixed blade 32 is mounted in horizontal guide-ways 106 in the frame members i8 and is'backed up by springs I98, which press it forwardly and hold it-yieldingly against two lugs I) that depend from the blade 28 "at opposite ends of the cutting'edge 'of-the latteiy'as shown in Fig. 3.

The presser is mounted upon a crosshead H4 that is movable in vertical guideways .HB

formed "between the front edges of the "frame members Iii and the rearfaces ofgibs .I I8 which are secured by screws-Into ribs I2I on'the frame members, theinner sides .of the ribs .IZI engaging the'opposite ends of the crosshead to prevent endwise displacement of the latter. Fastened-by its normal elevated position when the tread-1e is released. This normal :position of the cztosshead is determined by engagement-of the crossbar 4 2'2 withthe upper ends of theslots 'IZ-E'in the ribs The lower position (of the crosshead is :determined by engagement'of .thecrossba-r 42-2 with the lower ends of the-slots #24.

The presseror plunger '30 consists of fa lead of rubber or other-yielding amaterial secured to a rigid support 43 formed .at the lower end bf a plate iiifi the .upper end of :which is rigidly -;s ecured by means oila screw 13:8 130 the-crosshead H4. The screw 1&8 extends "through a *vertica'l "slot sec in the supporting plate 13.5,:the-1s1ot permitting vertical adjustment of the presser. The presser pad is centrally notchedncrrecessed at its lower side, as indicated'at 3:! in Fig. 3, so that it will apply pressure only in :localities at opposite sides of the central median zone at the shoe bottom. This willrinsurc that if the :shank stiffener s of the shoe projects to any substantial extent above the overlasted'margins of athe :upper, as indicated in :Fig. it will'not interfere with the adhesive :attachment of the :maslsing apiece to the presser 363 toperform its operation.

downwardly the dog 55 presser 3d continues cured to the latter then released, allowing the .shoe. As .showninxi fig. .3,.the strip 22 is'wide enough so that the :opposite end 'portionsof the masking piece cut therefrom will extend beyond the shoe bottom at opposite .sides of the shoe,

as indicated in Fig. .2, .to facilitate the removal of the maskingpiece from the shoe after it has served its purpose.

The movable shear blade :23 is mounted independently of the crosshead H4 in the vertical guideways "3 in which the crosshead 'I-I4 is mounted and theblade is adapted to be moved downwardly in unison with the crosshead to cowill-be displaced fromits perative position thereby releasing the blade 28 to the action of two springs I5 3 which then act to raise the blade to its normal inoperative position while the crosshead continues to move downwardly to enable The'lower ends of the springs I44 bear against abutments I 38 on the gibs H8 while the upper ends of the springs are seatedin sockets in the lugs .IID onthe blade Stop screws I58 carried by the gibs i it are adapted .to engage the upper edge of the blade 23 to limit 'its upward movement under the influence of the springs M8.

The knock-oil bar I42 is pivoted at I52 (Figs. 6 to 8) to the lower portion of the crosshead I I4 so that the knockoff bar can swing forwardly to displace its lower end ,from operative engagement with the shear blade 23 and the;knockoif bar is notched, as indicated at 154 in Fig, 3, to permit it to swing forwardly past the supporting plate I which carries the presser 31L Leaf springs L53 carried by the crosshead .and bearing against the knock-oil" bar M2 tend tohold the latter in its normal position of operative engagement withthe movable shear blade 28, this position of the bar I42 being determined y the engagement of a shoulder I55 on the bar withthe lower face of the crosshead. The knockeoff bar I4 2 is swung forwardly .to disengage it from the blade 28 by meansof a dog Hi6 pivoted at I58 to the blade 28 and having a tail I60 resting upon alug J52 on oneof th eframe members I8 and a .head i6 4 for engagement with the lower rear face of the knock-off bar I 42. As the crosshead moves is rocked in a clockwise direction, as viewed'in Figs. 6 to 8, the knock-off bar remaining in operative engagement with the blade 28, however, until the blade has cooperated with the fixed blade32 to cut the strip. I Immediately after thestrip has been cut, the knockofi bar 52 releases the blade 28 to the action of the springs MB which return the blade to the position shown in Fig. '7, this position being .determined by means of the stop pins I55). During the upward movement of the blade 28 the knockoff bar I 42 is swung still further in a forward direction, as indicated in Fig. 8, to avoid-interference with the blade. During this time the to move downwardly and functions to-carry the masking piece which has been cut from the strip 22 into engagement with the bottom of the shoe and to press it firmly against the shoe thereby causing it to become seby means of the adhesive coating-on the masking piece. The foot treadle is the crosshead H 3 and the presser .39 to rise and the -springs -to return the knock-off bar I52 to its normal undisplaced positlon wherein it is ready to operate upon the next depression of the crosshead to lower the movable blade 28.

The masking piece should be applied to the shoe so that the forward edge of the piece will be located at the front extremity of the heel-seat portion of the shoe bottom or, in other words, so that it will coincide with the line where the breast edge of the heel of the shoe is to be located. This is because it is desirable to have the outsole firmly secured to the shoe by means of the attaching cement as far rearwardly as the heel breast line and to insure that there shall be no cement bond between the outsole and the shoe bottom rearwardly of that line. It will be seen that the applied position of the masking piece is determined by two factors, viz., the length of the feed movement of the strip 22 (which determines the location of the edge at the leading end of the strip when that portion of the strip has been fed into position for the severing of the masking piece therefrom) and the extent of backward movement of the back gage 84 (which determines the lengthwise location of the shoe relatively to the presser 30 when the latter is being lowered to apply the masking piece to the shoe). The length of strip feed and, the extent of movement of the back gage are capable of being varied in accordance with the size of the shoe to be operated upon by adjustment of the stop rod 86 in the slot 13. This stop rod limits the rearward movement of the slide 68 which carries the back gage 84 and, through the lever 56, limits the forward or feed movement of the feed finger 46, and adjustment of the stop rod. thus simultaneously varies the extent of feed movement of the strip and that of the rearward movement of the shoe after the shoe has been presented to the machine. The arrangement is such that the increase in the length of feed stroke to properly position the strip 22 for the cutting of a masking piece for a large size shoe is substantially less than would be required if the operative position of the back gage 86 were not simultaneously adjusted to position the large shoe further toward the rear of the machine than a small shoe would be positioned. This arrangement therefore results in a substantial saving of strip material.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, means for supporting a strip and guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, means for feeding the strip to advance its leading end into position to be operated upon, means for positioning a shoe with respect to said operating position, and means for severing a piece from the leading end of the strip and applying said piece to the shoe to serve as a mask in the performance of a subsequent operation on the shoe.

2. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, means for supporting a strip and guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, a feed device for feeding the strip to advance its leading end into position to be operated upon, a movable shoe positioning gage adapted to be moved into operative position by a shoe as the latter is being presented to the machine by the operator, connections between said gage and said feed device for operating the latter, and means for severing a piece from the leading end of the strip and applying said piece to the shoe positioned by said gage.

3. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, means for supporting a strip and guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, means for feeding the strip to advance its leading end into position to be operated upon, means engageable with a lasted shoe presented bottom uppermost to the machine for positioning the shoe heightwise with its bottom face below the level of the leading end of said strip, a gage for positioning the shoe lengthwise with its heelseat portion beneath the leading end of the strip, means for severing a piece from the leading end of said strip, and means for engaging said piece just after it has been severed and applying it to the heel-seat portion of the shoe bottom to serve as a mask for a manufacturing operation subsequently to be performed upon the shoe.

4. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, means for supporting a strip and guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, a feed member for feeding the strip to advance its leading end into position to be operated upon, devices for severing a piece from the leading end of the strip and applying said piece to a shoe presented to the machine by the operator, a gage adapted to be engaged and moved by the shoe as the shoe is being presented to the machine, connections between said movable gage and said feed member for operating the latter to feed said strip, and means for arresting the movement of the gage to position the shoe relatively to said device and to determine the length of feed of the strip. 4

5. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, means for supporting a strip and guiding it while it is being fed in a lengthwise direction, mechanism for feeding the strip to advance its leading end into position to be operated upon, said mechanism including a member adapted to be engaged by a shoe being presented to .the machine and moved by the shoe to effect the feed of thestrip, adjustable means for limiting the movement of said member thereby to determine the length of the feed movement of the strip and locate the shoe in position to be operated upon, and means for, severing a piece from the leading. end of. the strip and applying said piece to the shoe to serve as a mask for an operation subsequently to be performed upon the shoe.

6. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a strip supporting guideway, a feed finger for feeding a strip along said guideway, a gage arranged to be engaged by the back part of a shoe being presented bOttOrn uppermost to the machine by the operator and to be moved by the shoe from an initial position to a final position wherein it serves to locate the shoe lengthwise in the machine, a rockshaft mounted for sliding movements lengthwise of said guideway, connections between said gage and said rockshaft for reciprocating said feed finger, means for rocking said shaft in one direction as it is being moved forwardly to effect feeding engagement of the feed finger with the strip, said means permitting said shaft to rock'in the oprection, a reciprocable feed finger movable forwardly to advance 'the leading :end of the "strip into position to be operated upon, a shoe positioning gage adapted to be moved backwardly from an initial into an operative position by a shoe being presented to the machine, means for moving said gage forwardly, connections between said gage and said feed finger lfor moving said feed finger forwardly when said game is moved backwardly and moving said feed finger backwardly when said gage is moved forwardly, and means for severing a piece from the leading end of said strip and applying said piece t'o-a; shoe positioned by said gage.

8. In a machine for applying masking pieces to shoes, in combination, means {for supporting a strip and guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, shear blades arranged to cooperate t'o ont a piece. from the leading end of said strip, a presser for applying said piece to the heel-"seat portion of a shoe supported bottom uppermost by the operator, means for engaging the bottom of the shoe and locating the shoe heightwise in a position beneath said presser, a movable back gage adapted to be engaged by the rear of the shoe as the shoe is being presented to the ma chine and moved by the shoe-from an initial position to an operative position for-locating the shoe lengthwise with respect to said shear blades and said presser, means for returning said back gage to said initial position, a reciprocatory feed device for feeding said strip to advance its forward portion past said shear blades and position its leading edge in line with the heel breast line of the shoe, and connections between said back gage and said feed device for reciprocating the latter in timed relation to the movements of said baekgage. i 9. In a machine for applying maskingpieces to shoes, in combination, means for supporting a strip and guidingit for lengthwise feeding movements, shear blades arranged to cooperate to out a piece from the leading end of said-strip, a presser for applying said piece to the heelseat portion of -'a shoe supported bottom uppermost by the operator, means for engaging the bottom of the shoe'and locating the shoe heightwise in a position beneath said presser, a movable back gage adapted to be engaged by the rear of the shoe as the shoe is being presented to the machine and moved by the shoe from an initial position to an operative position for locating the shoe lengthwise with respect to said shear blades and said presser, means for returning said back gage to said initial position, a reciprocatory feed device for feeding said strip to advance its forward portion past said shear blades and position its leading edge in line with the heel breast line of the shoe, connections between said back gage and said feed device for reciprocating the latter in timed relation to the movements of said back gage, and means for adjusting the extent of the movement of said back gage and correspondingly adjusting the length of stroke of said feed device thereby to adapt the machine for operation upon shoes of different sizes.

10. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a strip supporting guideway, a feed device for feeding a strip forwardly along said guideway, means for applying adhesive to said strip as it is being fed, a fixed shear blade across which the leading end portion of said strip is advanced by said feed device, a movable shear blade for cooperating with said fixed blade to sever a piece from said strip, a :gage for positior'iing a shoe in the machine, said gage being movable into operative position by movement of the shoe as the shoe is being presented to the machine, connections between said gage and said feed device for "operating the latter to feed the strip, a presser ior pressing piece against the shoe to cause it to become adhesively at- 'tached to the shoe, and operator-controlled means for operatin said movable sneer blade and said presser.

lie-III a inah ih' for operating 01 1 Shoes in "cbh'lbinatioh, mea i'is for support g a Strip With one surface facing devvnvvardiy guiding the strip for lengthwise feeding movement, means for applying adnesiveto the downwardly facing trip is being fed,

surfaceof Sal-d strip While the v a-sho' upported by-th pen atorbenea'th said strip and in position t 'ceive said piece, and means for cutting a be from the leading end of the strip and for press- -ing the adhesive-coated surface of the piece again'st' the shoe.

12. In a machine for operating on shoes, in

' combination, means for supporting a strip and guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, means for applying adhesive to the strip as it'is being fed, a cutting device for severing apiece from the leading end of said strip, means re'r locating a shoe presented bottom uppermost "to the machine 'vvith the heel-seat portion of the shoe bottom in "position toreceive said piece, a presser for applying said piece to the shoe tottom, said presser being constructed and arranged to apply pressurefonl-y in localities at opposite sidesof the central median one (if the snoeb'ottom, and means for operating said cutting device and said presser.

13. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, means for supporting a serpent guiding it for lengthwise feeding movement, means for feeding the strip to advahceits lead-.- ing end beyond said supporting and guiding means, a fixed shear blade beneath the leading end portion of the strip, a movable shear blade for cooperating with the stationary blade to sever a piece from the strip, and an adhesive applying roll for coating one side of the leading end portion of the strip with adhesive as the strip is being fed, said roll having a transversely concave periphery for imparting a transversely concave contour to the coated side of the strip to provide clearance between said side and said stationary shear blade so that the coating on the strip will not engage the shear blade.

14. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a strip supporting guideway, means for feeding a strip through said guideway, a fixed shear blade adjacent to the front end of said guideway, a movable shear blade for cooperating with said fixed blade to sever a piece from the leading end of said strip, an adhesive applying roll at one side of said strip for applying adhesive to the strip as the strip is being fed, and an idle roll at the opposite side of said strip for pressing said strip against said applying roll, said rolls having complemental transversely curved peripheries for imparting a transverse curvature to said strip as it is being coated.

15. In a machine for applying masking pieces to shoes, in combination, a strip guideway, means for feeding a strip through the guideway to advance its leading end beyond the forward extremity of the guideway, a movable knife for cutting a masking piece from the leading end of said strip, means for locating a shoe beneath said guideway in position to receive said masking piece, a crosshead mounted for up-andwlown movements above said guideway, a plunger carried by and movable in unison with said crosshead for applying the masking piece to the shoe, means for actuating said crosshead, connections between said crosshead and said knife for operating said knife to cut off said piece, and means for breaking said operative connections between said knife and said crosshead after said piece has been cut off but before it has been applied to the shoe and for restoring said operative connections during the upward movement of the crosshead.

16. In a machine for applying masking pieces to shoes, in combination, a strip guideway,

means for feeding a strip through the guideway to advance its leading end beyond the forward extremity of the guideway, a movable knife for cutting a masking piece from the leading end of bar carried by said crosshead for transmitting downward movement of the crosshead to the knifeto actuate the knife to cut off the masking piece, means for displacing said knock-off bar from operative relation to the knife during downward movement of the crosshead before said masking piece is applied ,to the shoe, and

means for raising the knife and replacing said bar during the upward movement of the crosshead.

1'7. In a machine for operating on shoes, in

combination, a fixed shear blade, means for feeding a strip to advance its leading end portion across said shear blade, a crosshead movable toward and from said fixed shear blade, a movable shear blade guided for movement beneath and in the path of said crosshead for cooperating with the fixed shear blade to sever a piece from the leading end portion of said strip for use as a masking piece, a knock-oi! bar between the crosshead and the movable shear blade for transmitting downward movement of the crossheadtosaid blade, a presser secured to said crosshead for movement in unison therewith, means forpositioning a shoe beneath said presser to receive said piece, means for, lowering said, crosshead to cause 'saidshear blades to cooperatefiand said presser to apply said piece to the shoe, means for displacing said knock-off bar during saidmovement of the crosshead to prevent further downward movement of said movable shear blade after said piece has been severed from said strip, means for raising the crosshead, and means for returning the knock-off bar and the movable shear blade to normal positions.

18. In a machine for operating on shoes, in combination, a fixed shear blade, means for feeding a strip to advance its leading end portion across said shear blade, a movable shear blade guided for, movement beneath and in the path of movement of saidcrosshead for cooperating with the fixed shear blade to sever a piece from the leading'end portion of said strip for use as a masking piece, a knock-ofi bar pivoted to said crosshead and normally positioned in engagement with said movable blade for transmitting downward movement of said head to said blade, a presser carried by said crosshead, means for locating a shoe beneath said presser in position to receive said piece, means for lowering said crosshead to cause said shear blades to cooperate and said presser to apply said piece to the shoe, a dog pivoted to said movable blade and engageable with said knock-off bar, a fixed abutment in engagement with said dog and arranged to rock the dog upon downward movement of said crosshead and to rock said knock-oil bar in a direction to disengage it from said blade, a

WALTER W. PRUE. 

